Fastening means



1970 P. J. CORMIER FASTENING MEANS Filed April 16. 1969 United States Patent "ice 3,550,220 FASTENING MEANS Paul J. Cormier, 1 Josselyn Place, Newton Highlands, Mass. 02161 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 658,521, Aug. 4, 1967. This application Apr. 16, 1969, Ser. No. 816,530

Int. Cl. A44b 21/00 US. C]. 24-81 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A fastening means is provided having a strip with overturned ends and a backer member extending under said ends whereby clamp means are formed at either end of the fastening means. In this embodiment, a dual purpose fastening means is provided useful for at least two different size stacks of sheets or other materials to be clamped.

RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 658,521, filed Aug. 4, 1967 now US. Pat. No. 3,488,814, issued Jan. 13, 1970.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many fastening means of the clamping type have also been known for many, many years. However, there has been some difiiculty in producing extremely inexpensive fastening means which permit fastening and clamping action on different size stacks of sheets or other materials in a single clamp construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A fastening means is provided having a flat strip with overturned first and second ends defining sheet receiving and clamping edges. An elongated backer member extends from the edges to define therewith first and second clamping means substantially at the ends of the backer member underlying the edges. Means are preferably provided for supporting the backer member in operative position so that when one of the clamping means is spread apart in clamping position, resilient force acting through the other clamping means strengtens the clamping action. Preferably the first and second clamping means are of different sizes to permit versatility of the clamping means in a variety of uses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a clamp fastener means in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning now to the clamp fastener means of the present invention, a clamp fastener 70 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprising a flat strip 71 preferably composed of a spring metal having overturned ends 72 and 73 defining transverse edges 74 and 75 respectively which extend from side to side to define end clamping means. A rigid strip or backed, as of a metal plate 76, is held in engagement with edges 74 and 75 preferably by a centrally located block 77 which is preferably joined to the flat central portion of the clamp at 78 as by a brazed joint.

3,550,220 Patented Dec. 29, 1970 Preferably the bent over end 72 is larger than the end 73 both in width, i.e., side to side dimension and in its radius of curvature so that two different size clamps are provided at either end of the clamp fastener means 70. This is accomplished by forming the body strip 71 with a wide end tapering to a narrow end before forming the curved portions. The end portions 79 and 80 of the fiat strip 76 act in conjunction with the edges 74 and 75 to clamp single or stacks of sheets of paper or other materials therebetween in use. A user can select either end of the clamp depending upon the size clamp needed for a particular application. In some applications, both end clamping means can be simultaneously used.

If for example, only clamping means at the end adjacent edge 74 is to be used, the left-hand end of strip 76 is depressed toward the flat bottom section of the clamp allowing positioning of materials to be clamped beneath the edge 74 and above the strip 76. The resilient action of the spring through the bent over edge 75 acts to urge the end toward the edge 74 and enhance clamping action. When the second clamping means at the right-hand end of the clamp fastening 70 is used, the reverse is true, that is, edge 74 acts to resiliently enhance clamping action at edge 75. The enhancement of clamping action is due to the fact that the black 77 acts as a fulcrum to provide a seesaw-like action to strip 76. In an alternate embodiment of the clamp fastener means 70, the backer 76 is more flexible than the body strip 71 thus allowing deflection of either or both ends of the backer 76 in use. This embodiment is particular useful for acting as a link between ends of members to be joined, such as ends of straps or chains which may act as restraining means. Thus, the clamp fastener means can be used in conjunction with handcuffs as where a persons hands are restrained behind his back and one end 73 holds the chain of the handcuffs while the other end 72 can be attached to the clothing or to an auxiliary belt or chain to prevent movement of the hands along the body axis.

While a specific embodiment of a clamp fastening means 70 has been shown, it should be understood that many variations thereof are possible. In all cases, it is preferred that an edge, although not necessarily a continuous edge as in the preferred embodiment, be in direct engagement at either of the end portions 79 and 80 of the strip 76. While it is preferred that member 71 be of a spring metal, it can be rigid and member 76 made of a resilient spring member. The block 77 can have a flat top surface preferably angled as shown, although in some cases, the top surface can be arcuate to enhance the pivoting action of the strip 76. The block can be aflixed to either or both of the backer 76 or body strip 71. The specific size and configuration of various elements can vary greatlydepending upon particular application and design considerations.

What is claimed is: 1. A fastener means comprising a strip having overturned ends defining sheet receiving and clamping edges, an elongated backer member underlying said edges to define therewith first and second clamping means at ends of said backer member underlying said edges,

means for supporting said backer member in operative position,

said first clamping means having a radius of curvature at said overturned strip end greater than the radius of curvature at said other strip end.

2. A fastener means comprising a resilient spring material strip having overturned ends defining sheet receiving and clamping edges,

an elongated backer member underlying said edges to define therewith first and second clamping means at ends of said backer member underlying said edges,

means for supporting said backer member in operative position,

said last-mentioned means supporting said backer member in an operative position so that when one of said clamping means is spread apart, resilient force acting at the other clamping means strengthens said clamping action,

said first clamping means having a radius of curvature of said overtumed strip end greater than the radius of curvature of said other strip end. i

3. A fastening means in accordance with claim 2 wherein said backer member is rigid.

4. A fastener means comprising a strip having overturned ends defining sheet receiving and clamping edges,

an elongated backer member underlying said edges to define therewith first and second clamping means at ends of said backer member underlying said edges,

means for supporting said backer member in operative position,

said backer member being a planar flexible strip,

4 said first clamping means having a radius of curvature of said overturned strip end greater than the radius of curvature of said other strip end,

said overturned strip end having a geater width than said other strip end.

5. A fastening means in accordance With claim 3 wherein said means for supoprting said backer member is a metal block attached to said strip substantially between said ends thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 593,023 11/1897 Kelly 2473CH 1,504,416 8/1924 Baude 24-73CH 1,633,539 6/1927 Miller et a1 2473CH 3,103,047 9/1963 Wolf 24-73 FOREIGN PATENTS 80,864 7/1934 Sweden 24--73CH DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner 

